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Fantasy mavens live and die by the numbers from April to October. Numbers in March, however, are like men's breasts. Not relevant. Brian Lesher and John Roskos both hit .400 last March. If you drafted either, stop reading now. You cannot be helped. Here, for the rest of you, are a trio of plot -- not stat -- lines to watch:

1. The Return of John Smoltz

Healthy, he's Grade A roto prime: Pinpoint control, a truckload of K's, stingy ERA, plenty of W's. But he missed all of 2000, healing from elbow surgery. If he's back and booked for 200 innings, he's easily a top-10 hurler.

The early line: Smoltz is only 33, and lesser pitchers than he have returned to 100% after being similarly sliced and diced.

2. The Education of Ichiro Suzuki

Everyone is comparing him to Johnny Damon. Pretty weird, since almost no one has actually seen him play. Cooler heads (read: me) will wait to see how he does this spring. Then, we'll have a better idea of whether his success in the Land of the Rising Sun will carry over to the Show.

The early line: Suzuki has been working out at Safeco, and there's talk that Lou Piniella wants to bat him third. If, in fact, he breaks camp in the three hole, take it as confirmation that the M's think he's ready for major league pitching.

3. As Albert Belle's Hip Degenerates

Bad hips kill careers. (Don't take my word for it, ask Bo Jackson.) Belle's 23 HRs and .474 slugging percentage in 2000 was his worst full-season showing since 1991. Three scenarios could play out in the next couple of weeks:
1) Hip is good, Belle resumes outfield duties
2) Hip is not so good, Belle tries to DH
3) Hip is very bad, Belle hangs 'em up

The early line: Here's a hip pointer -- don't let anyone sell you Prince Albert until he chases down some flies.

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